Monday, 29 November 2010

Series four picks up approx 12 months after the end of series 3. One year after the death of Johnson and the disappearance of three key ARC personnel (Danny, Connor and Abby), the government lost faith in Lester’s abilities to run such a dangerous and expensive operation on his own. They placed the ARC in the hands of a public/private partnership, part-owned by the government, and partly by entrepreneurial scientist Philip Burton (think Richard Branson with a microscope). The ARC now operates from the industrial complex which houses Philip’s scientific empire; an estate of buildings with all the hustle and bustle of a thriving scientific community.As with any public/private partnership, there’s tension over who’s really in charge; Lester still runs the day-to-day operation but begrudgingly, he realizes that Philip will want involvement in the operation when it suits him. Following Connor, Abby and Danny’s departure, the ARC found new recruits to take their place: Matt, new field leader, now handles the incursions. He’s more than just an ex-soldier; he’s a zoologist, with an uncanny ability to understand animals. A private man, Matt carefully guards the secrets of his past - and the real reason he has joined the ARC team. Unconventional Jess now runs operations from the ARC Control Centre – highly efficient and organized, her work ethic is second to none, though she is human enough to nurse an unrequited crush on Captain Becker.Becker reigned from the military when the ARC was destroyed, and has lived with a sense of responsibility for the original team going missing. He now works as Head of Security for the ARC. They come complete with new uniforms, and most importantly to Matt, new taser guns which avoid killing the creatures.During the year they spent stranded in the Cretaceous, Connor and Abby eeked out an existence by eating roots and grubs and learning when to run fast from the creatures that threaten their lives. It’s an experience that has brought them closer together, in every sense. But their time there has taken its toll…both emotionally and physically. Abby, always the most practical one of the two, has adapted to her new surroundings slightly better than Connor, who was always happier around technological comforts than out in the wild. But neither are prepared for the changes that have happened to the ARC since they left in search of Helen one year ago…Danny, the only outstanding member of the original team, returns in episode 7, where his revelations will have a profound effect on the ARC and its team. He has struggled through life in the Rift Valley and several other eras, and has fought to find a way back after discovering a secret the team needs to know. His return is greeted with shock and happiness, but he soon makes the decision to return to the wilderness of the anomalies, in search of his lost brother.

Thursday, 23 September 2010

Irish cinematographer Donal Gilligan passed away last Sunday, aged 46. Gilligan had worked on numerous Irish productions, including the fourth series of Primeval. Our condolences go out to his family, friends and colleagues.

Impossible Pictures is set to build on sci-fi drama Primeval with an innovative CSI-style franchise deal with Canadian indie Omni Film Productions.

Following a co-production deal agreed last week, Omni Film will try to line up a broadcaster to partfund a Canadian version of the show, which is likely to cost about $2m per episode.

The yet-to-be-named Primeval franchise will extend the format with new characters, locations and storylines, rather than replicating the existing UK series.

Star Trek: Enterprise writers Judy and Garfield Reeves-Stevens have been earmarked to work on the scripts, which will be distributed to broadcasters.

Impossible has already begun early discussions with a range of UK, US and German broadcasters and distributors to gauge interest, and is hopeful of bringing in further investment with a view to starting production next summer.

Jonathan Drake, managing director of Impossible Pictures, said franchising the brand created opportunities both to distribute the Primeval back catalogue and to help secure its future.

“We won’t be replacing the UK show in the international market but complementing it. It will provide a positive glow for our catalogue of existing Primeval shows,” said Drake. “And if something were to happen to the UK version, the brand still survives.”

The Primeval spin-off will be produced in Canada with Impossible maintaining close control as co-exec producer. Drama and factual producer Omni Film worked with Impossible on ABC’s US drama Defying Gravity last year.

ITV decommissioned the original Primeval but it was rescued last year after Impossible struck a complex co-production deal involving ITV, UKTV, ProSieben in Germany and BBC Worldwide. ITV and Watch will get the first run of series four and five respectively next year. Both are currently being shot in Dublin, with a revamped cast.

Separately, Warner Bros picked up the rights to make a Primeval film in May last year.

This could mean that Series 4 or 5 could bridge the Canadian spin-off.

Friday, 6 August 2010

This DS article refers to an interview with Alexander Siddig (a new cast-member for Series 4) where he makes fleeting reference to Primeval, in the first page of that interview. At the end of the DS article, it is mentioned that:

The new [series] of Primeval will premiere in January on ITV1.

I may have missed something before, but I'm pretty sure that's the first real word on Series 4's premiere date. I mean, we shouldn't really set our hopes on that - remember last series? Plus, we don't know where this info is coming from. But, it is promising, that they're confident enough to put a month on the article.

Wednesday, 28 July 2010

Forum member xhannahandandrewx has kindly transcribed a short article in the latest SFX magazine:

[I think I may finally be getting to grips with the blog formating...]

LovestruckIt seems 'what happens in the Cretaceous, stays in the Cretaceous' because when Connor and Abby return to the present after a year stuck in the past they're a bona fide couple - about bloody time. Then again, surviving by eating grubs and running away from dinos will do that to folk. Finding themselves back in the present working and living together puts a strain on their romance, but at least there'll be plenty of creatures on hand in case they want to vent their frustrations with a tranquiliser gun. Who needs relationship counsellors anyway?

Soldier, SoldierNew boy Matt Anderson (Ciaran McMenamin) will have his work cut out filling the ample shoes of Cutter and Danny, but as the new ARC field leader his mix of brains, brawn, charisma and sense of adventure should see him quickly win over the team. We're told he's joined the ARC operation for his own purposes, and with a bit of mystery surrounding his past - not to mention an innate understanding of animal psychology - its unlikey he's there just to make up the numbers.

New Girl In TownNewbie Jess (Ruth Kearney) runs operations from the ARC control centre, and her skill set includes computer wizadry, coming at problems from unusual angles, winding up Lester and flirting. The (unrequited, alas) object of her affections is the ARC head of security Becker, whos still nursing emotional scars about the loss of team members last year. Will she be able to break down his armour, we wonder?

Home Is Where The ARC IsIts not only the team thats had a bit of a makeover. With the new-look facility now operating from within Burton's empire - an estate housing some of the greatest minds in the scientific world - its no surprise that theres plenty of tension with Lester as the pair tussle over whos really in charge.